Modular dispenser for condiments and similar items

ABSTRACT

A modular dispenser which includes a cellular unit consisting of one or more individual cellular parts. The cellular unit fits within a tubular jacket and is retained therein by means of a snap-fitting cap. The cellular unit includes a tab which projects outwardly from the jacket and which allows the cellular unit to be rotated relative to the jacket. Each cellular part of the cellular unit has an aperture therein which may be selectively brought into registry with an opening in the jacket as the cellular unit is turned within the jacket so as to allow the contents within the cellular part to be dispensed from the unit.

States Patent 11 1 Shannon Oct. 23, 1973 1 MODULAR DISPENSER FOR CONDIMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS 21 Appl. No.2 63,763

[52] US. Cl. 222/144.5 [51] Int. Cl A231 1/22 [58] Field of Search 222/1685, 183, 132,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,484,889 2/1924 Kaye 222/144 2,627,992 2/1953 Kurz 222/1445 2,890,816 6/1959 11611666.. 222/142.9x 3,480,177 11/1969 1311161 220/60x 1,714,368 5/1929 I'IObSOl'l 222/553 734,165 7/1903 Drewery ..222/132x 763,916 6/1904 Livingston ..222/144.5x

3,235,130 2/1966 Walther et al. 222/l44.5 X

2,655,288 10/1953 Caretto ZZZ/142.9 X

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 261,595 11/1926 Great Britain 222/1445 Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack, Jr. Attorney0ltsch & Knoblock [57] ABSTRACT A modular dispenser which includes a cellular unit consisting of one or more individual cellular parts. The cellular unit fits within a tubular jacket and is retained therein by means of a snap-fitting cap. The cellular unit includes a tab which projects outwardly from the jacket and which allows the cellular unit to be rotated relative to the jacket. Each cellular part of the cellular unit has an aperture therein which may be selectively brought into registry with an opening in the jacket as the cellular unit is turned within the jacket so as to allow the contents within the cellular part to be dispensed from the unit.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnoma nan 3.767L087 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY D. SHANNON PATENTED Bill 2 3 I915 SHEET 2 OF 2 I NVEN TOR HENRY D. SHANNON I I I/I I I/I I 6M &

ATTORNEYS MODULAR DISPENSER FOR CONDIMENTS AND SIMILAR ITEMS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a material dispenser and has specific application to a modular type dispenser for condiments or similar items.

This invention includes a cellular unit having a circular side wall, an end wall, and preferably a partitioning wall extending betwen spaced sections of the side wall and engaging said end wall so as to divide the unit into two or more cellular parts. The cellular unit slidably fits within a jacket having a circular side wall which encloses the side wall of the cellular unit. The jacket includes an in-turned lip at one end edge thereof against which the cellular unit abuts. A cap makes interlocking engagement with the other end of the jacket and serves to retain the cellular unit within the jacket. The cellular unit includes a part which projects outwardly from the jacket and which permits the unit tobe rotated relative to the jacket. Each cellular part of the unit has an aperture therein which is adapted to register with an opening in the side wall of the jacket upon selected rotation of the unit relative to the jacket so as to enable the contents within a partiular cellular part of the dispenser to be dispensed from the unit.

Each cellular part of the cellular unit is adapted to contain a specific condiment which enables the user of the dispenser to select a particular condiment f use among a plurality of available condiments retained within the cellular unit. The container of this invention may be econimically constructed from a plastic, such as polyethylene, paper, or a combination of paper and plastic.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a compact, economically manufacturable container having at least one and preferably a plurality of cellular parts each adapted to housea particular condiment or similar material which can be withdrawn from the cellular part in selected amounts.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispenser for a plurality of condiments or similar items which is of economical construction and from which the user thereof may extract a selected condiment by simple manipulation of the dispenser.

Another'object of this invention is to provide a dis- 2 penser adapted to contain a plurality of dispensing elements and including means for dispensing a selected one of the elements.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the inventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the dispenser of the invention with portion broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

vFIG. 3 is a view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 showin the parts thereof in separated form.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 as seen from line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a modified embodiment of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 and is a view looking into the jacket of the dispenser with the cap removed therefrom to show'a cluster of three separable cellular parts.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with the cap applied to the jacket of the dispenser.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of another modification of this invention.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the dispenser of FIG. 5 as seen from line 88 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the reference numeral 10 refers to a cellular unit having a circuilar side wall 12, an end wall 14 and a partitioning wall 16 which extends from end wall 14 to the plane of end edge 18 of unit 10 and from'one side to the opposite side of wall 12 so as to divide the cellular unit into two or more cellular parts 20. It is to be understood that although partitioning wall 16 is illustrated as dividing cellular unit 10 into two semi-circular cellular parts 20, the wall could consist of a plurality of radial sections which extend outwardly from the center axis of the cellular unit and which divide the unit into three or more sectors. Additionally, partitioning wall 16 may be omitted entirely so that the cellular unit defines but a single cellular part.

Side wall 12 of cellular unit 10 includes two or more spaced extension parts 22 which project beyond the outer face 24 of end wall 14 and which are each preferably generally V-shaped and beveled to form a point. A sealing disk 26 preferably spans the open end of cellular unit 10 and is joined to end edge 18 of the unit and partitioning wall 16 so-as to seal each cellular part 20. Disk 26 is preferably of a thin-walled construction and may be formed from paper or plastic. Each cellular part has at least one and preferably a plurality of apertures 28, hereinafter referred to as a group, formed in its section or portion of unit side wall 12. Each group of apertures 28 for each cellular part 20 preferably extends longitudinally along side wall 12. The apertures 28 in each group may be either aligned, as illustrated in FIG. 2, or arranged in a staggered or offset orientation.

Cellular unit 10 fits complementally within a sleeve or tubular jacket 30. Jacket 30 includes a circular side wall 32 having an in-turned, return-bent annular lip 34 formed at one end thereof and an out-turned annular flange 36 formed at the opposite end thereof. End edge 38 of lip 34 is preferably beveled with the lip being spaced from side wall 32 of the jacket so as to form an annular slot or groove 39 which receives extension parts 22 of cellular unit 10. End edge 38 of the jacket 30 is preferably spaced from end wall 14 of cellular unit 10, and each extension part 22 of unit 10 abuts and makes point contact with the bend of lip 34, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The edge portion of side wall 32 which carries flange 36 preferably extends beyond end edge 18 of cellular unit 10. Side walls 12 and 32 of the cellular unit and jacket respectively are preferably complementally tapered, as best illustrated in FIG. 2.

A cap 40 spans the opening of jacket 32 defined by flange 36 and includes an annular beaded lip 42 which fits around flange 36 and interlocks with the flange in a snap fit. Cap 40 includes a flexible wall 41 which is of a concave-convex configuration in its free, unattached state, as seen in FIG. 3. Cap wall 41 includes a central projection 44 which abuts the end edge 46 of partitioning wall 16 to urge the cellular unit against lip 34 of the jacket when the cap is attached to jacket 30. Also when cap 40 is attached to the jacket, its wall 41 assumes a generally straightened flexed position as best seen in FIG. 2. Side wall 32 of the jacket 30 has at least one and may include a plurality of longitudinally aligned openings 48 formed therein.

Cellular unit 10 is fitted within jacket 30 so as to be rotatable about its axis relative to the jacket. Apertures 28 in unit 10 and openings 48 in jacket 30 are so arranged that the apertures are brought into alignment with the openings upon rotation of the cellular unit. End wall 14 of unit 10 includes a projection 50 which extends outwardly and which defines a tab by which the user of the dispenser in grasping jacket 30 can rotate the cellular unit 10 relative to the jacket so as to align the apertures 28 of a selected cellular part 20 with openings 48 in the jacket. With openings 48 and apertures 28 of the selected cellular part 20 being aligned and therefore placed in registry, the user of the dispenser can tilt the dispenser and shake the contents within the selected cellular part out of the dispenser. To ssist the user in aligning openings 48 and selected apertures 28, the bend of lips 34 may have a dimple or slight depression 49 formed therein which receives the tips of extension parts 22 of cellular unit 10 as the apertures and openings are brought into registry. When the dispenser is not in use, cellular unit 10 may be rotated so that its apertures 28 are placed out of registry with openings 48 in jacket 30. During movement of the cellular unit relative to the jacket, extension parts 22 of the cellular unit and central projection 44 of cap serve as points of bearing contact between the cellular unit, jacket and cap. The ends 51 of cellular unit projection 50 preferably extend to the inner face 43 of jacket lip 34 and are beveled as shown in FIG. 4, so as to make slight contact with inner lip face 43 and thus serve to assist in guiding the rotation of unit 10 within jacket 30. Sealing disk 26 of the cellular unit 10 prevents the contents of the various cellular parts 20 from mixing.

In the embodiment of the dispenser illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, jacket 30 and cap 40 are of the same construction as described in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4. Cellular unit 10 consists of a plurality of separable cellular parts 52 which are illustrated as three in number. Each cellular part 52 includes an arcuate side wall section 54, converging side walls 56 which extend from edges 58 of side wall section 54, and an end wall section 60. The side walls 56 of cellular parts 52 are positioned face to face with the arcuate side wall sections 54 of the cellular parts cooperating to define the outer circular side wall 12' of the cellular unit 10. At least one and preferably each of the cellular parts 52 includes a projection 62 which constitutes an extension of its side walls 56 and which cooperate with the projections 62 of the other cellular parts to define a protrusion or tab by which the user of the dispenser can cause rotation of the cellular unit within jacket 30. Additionally, each cellular part 52 includes an extension part 64 which constitutes a continuation of its arcuate side wall section 54 and which is preferably of a similar construction as extension parts 22 of the cellular unit illustrated in FIGS. L4. The arcuate side wall section 54 of each cellular part 52 includes a group of apertures 28 which are of the same type and for the same purpose as those apertures described for each cellular part 20 of the cellular unit illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Each cellular part 52 has its open end sealed by a thin sheet member 66.

Cellular parts 52 are complementally fitted within jacket 30 with projection 44 of cap 40 preferably abutting cellular parts 52 at the center junction 57 of the sealed end edges of side walls 56 so as to cause extension parts 64 of each cellular part to abut bend 35 of jacket lip 34. The method of operation of this embodiment of the dispenser is like that previously described for the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 wherein the cellular parts 52 are rotated as a unit within jacket 30 to enable the user of the dispenser to position apertures 28 of a selected cellular part 52 in alignment with openings 48 in jacket 30. It is to be understood that the cellular parts which cooperate to define the cellular unit of this embodiment may consist of two semicircular parts, a semi-circular part and two or more sectored cellular parts, or a combination of a number of sectored cellular parts.

The embodiment of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 7 is illustrative of a means of coupling two cellular units 10 so as to allow the user of the dispenser to have access to a number of condiments in one compact dispenser. In this embodiment, two jackets 30 are provided with each jacket complementally receiving a cellular unit 10 whch may comprise an integral unit consisting of cellular parts 20, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, or a composite unit consisting of a plurality of separable cellular parts 52 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8. A diskshaped cap 68 is positioned between the confronting flanges 36 ofjackets 30. Cap 68 includes oppositely extending central projections 70 which abut respective cellular units 10 and spaced annular beaded lips 74 which encircle jackets 30 and which fit around flanges 36 of the jackets, thus serving to join the jackets. In this dispenser, the user thereof is able to rotate each cellular unit 10 relative to its jacket 30 and thereby select a particular condiment for use. Additionally, cap 68 may be formed in two parts, a coupler ring and inner disk, which would permit a joining of the jackets 30 in much the same manner as the cellular units are connected in my U. S. Pat. application Ser. No. 875,748 filed Nov. 12, I969.

The cellular units, jacket, and cap of this invention may be formed of transparent material so as to enable the user of the dispenser to ascertain what type and amount of the contents are within each cellular part of the device. If the dispenser is constructed of an opaque material, the end wall of the cellular unit may have printed matter thereon which will enable the user of the device to ascertain what items are contained within particular cellular parts of the dispenser. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details herein given but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A dispenser comprising a cellular unit including a circular side wall, a lower end wall, and a partitioning wall extending between spaced sections of said side wall and engaging said end wall to divide said unit into two or more cellular parts; a tubular jacket including a circular side wall having first and second end edges; said first jacket end edge being defined by an inturned lip which is return bent and spaced from said side wall to define an annular groove; said jacket lip defining an annular lower opening in said jacket at said first end edge; said cellular unit fitting within said jacket with portions thereof abutting said jacket lip; said cellular unit being rotatable about its axis within said jacket said cellular unit including projections fitting within said groove and being shiftable in said groove upon rotation of said cellular unit within said jacket; said second jacket end edge defining an upper opening in said jacket; cap means spanning said upper opening in said jacket and overlying said cellular unit; means interlocking said cap means to said jacket; said cap means contacting said cellular unit and urging said cellular unit portions into abutment with said jacket lip; each section of said cellular unit side wall which defines a cellular part having an aperture therein; said jacket side wall having an opening therein positioned so as to be placed in registry with the aperture in the side wall section of a selected cellular part upon rotation of said cellular unit within said jacket; and grip means protruding outwardly from said cellular unit end wall and into said lower opening in said jacket; said grip means constituting means for rotating said cellular unit within said jacket. 7

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said grip means is recessed within said lower opening and terminates inwardly of said first jacket end edge.

, 3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cellular unit is of a one-piece construction.

4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said jacket includes an out-turned flange at its said second end edge; said cap means including a lip fitted over said jacket flange; said jacket flange and cap means lip constituting said means interlocking said cap means to said jacket.

5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said cap means includes a central part in contact with the partitioning wall of said cellular unit.

6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cellular parts of said cellular unit are separable; each separable cellular part including an arcuate outer side wall section and at least one inner side wall and an end wall section; said separable cellular parts having the inner side walls thereof in face to face engagement with the outer side wall and end wall'sections cooperating to define said circular side and end wall respectively of said cellular unit.

7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein at least one of the end wall sections of said separable cellular parts includes grip means by which said separable cellular parts can be rotated as a unit within said jacket.

8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the end wall section of each separable cellular part includes a projection which cooperates with a similar projection of at least one other separable cellular part so as to define a tab which constitutes said grip means.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said tab includes end edges positioned adjacent spaced portions of said lip and serving as guides during rotation of said cellular unit within said jacket. 

1. A dispenser comprising a cellular unit including a circular side wall, a lower end wall, and a partitioning wall extending between spaced sections of said side wall and engaging said end wall to divide said unit into two or more cellular parts; a tubular jacket including a circular side wall having first and second end edges; said first jacket end edge being defined by an inturned lip which is return bent and spaced from said side wall to define an annular groove; said jacket lip defining an annular lower opening in said jacket at said first end edge; said cellular unit fitting within said jacket with portions thereof abutting said jacket lip; said cellular unit being rotatable about its axis within said jacket said cellular unit including projections fitting within said groove and being shiftable in said groove upon rotation of said cellular unit within said jacket; said second jacket end edge defining an upper opening in said jacket; cap means spanning said upper opening in said jacket and overlying said cellular unit; means interlocking said cap means to said jacket; said cap means contacting Said cellular unit and urging said cellular unit portions into abutment with said jacket lip; each section of said cellular unit side wall which defines a cellular part having an aperture therein; said jacket side wall having an opening therein positioned so as to be placed in registry with the aperture in the side wall section of a selected cellular part upon rotation of said cellular unit within said jacket; and grip means protruding outwardly from said cellular unit end wall and into said lower opening in said jacket; said grip means constituting means for rotating said cellular unit within said jacket.
 2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said grip means is recessed within said lower opening and terminates inwardly of said first jacket end edge.
 3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cellular unit is of a one-piece construction.
 4. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said jacket includes an out-turned flange at its said second end edge; said cap means including a lip fitted over said jacket flange; said jacket flange and cap means lip constituting said means interlocking said cap means to said jacket.
 5. The dispenser of claim 4 wherein said cap means includes a central part in contact with the partitioning wall of said cellular unit.
 6. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein said cellular parts of said cellular unit are separable; each separable cellular part including an arcuate outer side wall section and at least one inner side wall and an end wall section; said separable cellular parts having the inner side walls thereof in face to face engagement with the outer side wall and end wall sections cooperating to define said circular side and end wall respectively of said cellular unit.
 7. The dispenser of claim 6 wherein at least one of the end wall sections of said separable cellular parts includes grip means by which said separable cellular parts can be rotated as a unit within said jacket.
 8. The dispenser of claim 7 wherein the end wall section of each separable cellular part includes a projection which cooperates with a similar projection of at least one other separable cellular part so as to define a tab which constitutes said grip means.
 9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein said tab includes end edges positioned adjacent spaced portions of said lip and serving as guides during rotation of said cellular unit within said jacket. 